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Many people that book short cruises tend to want an inexpensive getaway, rather than an extravagant voyage. In terms of the overall cost of the cruise, a 3-night cruise will almost always cost less than a week-long cruise vacation, which is perfect for anyone on a limited budget. The best reason to book a short cruise it will cost you less than a longer sailing. Weighing value versus opportunity is something a lot of cruisers consider when planning their next cruise vacation, and short sailings have certain advantages and disadvantages to them.
Flight costs can be more than the cruise
Longer trips could see you getting bored with the options — especially if you are a slot player. If you haven’t had the buffet on Royal Caribbean — or any cruise ship — know that it’s decent quality, but our opinion is that it’s unlikely to “wow” you. It’s perfectly fine for a meal here or there, but we think other restaurants on the ship offer better food. Of course, you also have all of your classic things to do aboard Royal Caribbean, including the pool, adults-only Solarium, mini-golf, casino, tons of bars, shows, and more.
Ships in the Royal Caribbean International fleet
Two twin beds that convert to a Royal King, boardwalk view balcony, sitting area, and a private bathroom. Two twin beds (can convert into queen-size), private balcony, sitting area, and a private bathroom. That evening after returning to the ship we enjoyed some time in Playmakers — the sports bar on the ship — watching the Sunday night NFL game.
Balcony (8D)
Likewise, you could sightsee around Hollywood before embarking on a 7-night cruise from Los Angeles. Weeklong cruise itineraries are offered around the world, but some of the best itineraries for first-time cruisers leave from Florida ports and visit the Caribbean. While west coast cruisers may prefer a cruise from Seattle or Los Angeles, our top recommendation for others is to sail out of Port Canaveral, Fort Lauderdale, or Miami.
This unique Port Canaveral cruise itinerary to Bermuda and Perfect Day at CocoCay on Adventure of the Seas® visits both of Royal Caribbean's private destinations, where paradise is just steps away from the ship. On an eight-night journey, this ship will first cruise to Labadee, the cruise line's private peninsula adventure park and beach. The next private island destination is Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean's oasis in The Bahamas. Here you'll port within short distance of pristine beaches, a thrilling water park and countless ways to unwind beneath the palm trees.
The longer itinerary of weeklong sailings provides extra time to travel to ports further from the United States, meaning you can experience a wider range of cultures and scenery than on a shorter sailing. Visiting ports like Cozumel, St. Thomas, and Labadee are not possible on short weekend cruises. 8-night cruises, on the other hand, often visit Southern Caribbean ports such as Aruba, Curacao, and Bonaire. The extra day on 8-night itineraries provides more travel time to reach these islands.
MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND CALLS
Five moves Royal Caribbean is making to overhaul its weekend cruise business for the future - Royal Caribbean Blog
Five moves Royal Caribbean is making to overhaul its weekend cruise business for the future.
Posted: Mon, 04 Mar 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Amplifications bring an impressive upgrade to Royal Caribbean ships, adding new onboard activities, stateroom options, and dining/lounge venues. Master bedroom with Royal King size bed and bath on second level. Living room with sofa that converts to double bed. No matter which coast you’re on, you don’t need a lot of days off to enjoy a short weekend getaway.
Balcony (1C)
Private bathroom with tub, sitting area with table and sofa. After spending most of the day at the waterpark, after lunch we headed over to the “Chill Island” section where there are three large beaches to hang out. One of our favorite things is that there are tons of loungers and umbrellas setup at the beaches and they are free to use.
THE MOST EXCITING CRUISE DESTINATIONS
Therefore, you will see weekend cruises leaving from ports closest to other countries. In Royal Caribbean’s case, Florida ports have quick access to the Bahamas whereas Los Angeles is just a short distance from Mexico. It's time to start planning your next big vacation. Whether you're looking for a weekend getaway, a family-friendly vacation or an extended voyage, you'll find cruises out of Port Canaveral, Florida that tick all your boxes.
If you’re flying from Montana to Florida for a cruise, for example, you’re better off booking a longer sailing. Liberty of the Seas is another Freedom Class cruise ship and she will offer 3-night cruises to Perfect Day at CocoCay and Nassau, Bahamas starting in November 2022. Those booking a weekend getaway on Liberty of the Seas will depart from Ft.
AtmosphereWhile Mariner of the Seas was last refurbished in 2018, we found that it still shows some signs of age. Public areas are modern and updated, including the pool area, restaurants, bars, and lounges. However, we found the decor around the cabins and staterooms to be somewhat dated. The cabin itself was comfortable and serviceable (more below), but definitely was not what you’d expect if you were going to stay at a modern luxury hotel. That’s exactly what we were looking for when we booked a three-day cruise aboard Royal Caribbean’s Mariner of the Seas. The cruise, which departed in early October, sailed from Port Canaveral, with a stop in Nassau and then a day at CocoCay.
Here are our top recommendations for turning a Royal Caribbean cruise into a longer 2-3 week vacation. As another plus, both Freedom of the Seas and Independence of the Seas recently received significant refurbishments, adding Royal Caribbean’s most modern venues and activities onboard.
One of the primary regrets anyone that books a short cruise usually has is they did not have enough time during the cruise. Royal Caribbean is launching quick getaway options in 2024 and 2025, perfect for both a first-time cruiser or a high seas veteran. The cruises will sail out of several different ports in the United States, including Florida, Texas and California.
On the 7-night sailing on Harmony of the Seas, the cruise fare for 2 adults in a balcony stateroom is $1,960 total. This makes the cost per day $280 per room, or $140 per person. On the 3-night sailing on Freedom of the Seas, the cruise fare for 2 adults in a balcony stateroom is $1068. This makes the cost per day $356 per room, or $178 per person. If you have few vacation hours or you’re saving them for a longer trip, a 3-night cruise offers the chance to have a mini-vacation without sacrificing your precious PTO time. Weekend cruises are fairly limited in the destinations they can visit, but that doesn’t mean you can’t experience an amazing day in port on a 3-night getaway.
A great benefit of a weekend cruise is that far less vacation time is needed compared to a 7-night cruise, especially if you live close to the departure port. By departing on Friday afternoon and returning Monday morning, it’s possible to take just one or two days off of work. A weekend cruise can offer a much-needed getaway for many passengers. Being able to leave any stress at home and visit multiple tropical destinations in a short amount of time is simply a wonderful way to spend a weekend. Like many other ships offering weekend cruises, Mariner of the Seas was recently amplified to include new activities, amenities, and dining options. Mariner of the Seas, a Voyager Class ship, occasionally offers 3-night weekend cruises, although they are more sporadic and not offered year-round.
Two twin beds that convert to a Royal King, central park view balcony, sitting area, and a private bathroom. Our quick weekend getaway cruises are bar-raising adventures designed to change the way you vacation. Whether you’re into action-packed thrills or beachside chill, you’re just one click away from relaxation mode. Or, if you have some flexible time off work, you could choose to travel during a period adjacent to the Labor Day holiday for an even less stressful experience. Deserted Honeymoon Beach on St. Thomas beckons you, whether you're looking to relax on its sunkissed shores or get active with some snorkel gear.
